Monday, November 8, 2004

Dressage Night’s Continental Cup At Metropolitan National Horse Show

Gabriel Armando Loves New York

“It’s good to come back to the city and show,” enthused Gabriel Armand, a former Manhattan banker who is now a professional rider and competed for Argentina in the 2003 Pan American Games.

His ride was a crowd-pleaser with booming orchestrated rock music. “I think the public of New York need to get closer to dressage and when they do, I think they will enjoy it. I brought 20 people who were there clapping for me. Next year I’ll bring more!”

Isabelle Leibler was competing in her second Continental Cup and was pleased with the evening’s results. Her whimsically cute music was based on orchestrated Elvis tunes. “The last time my pony did his freestyle was last year at this show, so I was very happy with the way he did his test,” said Leibler.

At the 2003 Dressage Night, Leibler noted she had the same results as this evening’s performance – a Team Gold Medal and a red ribbon for her individual second place finish. “It feels really great to repeat that,” Leibler smiled.